Page 34 - Southern Exposure - February '25

Page 34, Southern Exposure

tAmPA GEnErAl nEWs Book rEviEW

Concierge Care Is Dictionary Of Fine Distinctions:

A Family Affair Nuances, Niceties,

When Kim Hoffman And Subtle Shades Of Meaning
began experiencing
complications following an
emergency appendectomy By Nils A. Shapiro
at a community hospital
in Palm Beach County, Nils began his career you hardly realize
Tampa General Hospital’s as marketing director for a you are learning so
(TGH’s) Dr. Laurie major book publisher. He much, and many
Rothman was the first has since edited the authors’ of the explanations
person she called. “She manuscripts’ for more than are illustrated with
answered on the first 20 published books, written delightful cartoon
ring,” says Hoffman. “I more than 200 book reviews, illustrations.
was upset and concerned served as publisher of several If you care about
about what the doctors at Kim Hoffman million-plus circulation using the correct
the hospital were telling national magazines, created words in your own conversations or in your writings this is
me. She reassured me that she’d speak with them and that the official yearbooks for a must-have reference book. If that is not a problem you care
everything would be okay. I was incredibly grateful and teams in Major League much about, then it is a must-have for the fun it will add to
relieved knowing she was there for me, and would determine Baseball, the National Football League, National Basketball your life. Here are just a few examples of words you may
the next best course of action.” Association and National Hockey League, and “retired” as be using incorrectly. For lack of space here I offer only the
Hoffman has been a happy patient of Dr. Rothman’s president of a successful telecommunications company. author’s brief opening statement for each. He almost always
for more than 12 years. A friend recommended her after I had intended for this book to take its place alongside follows up with a fuller explanation, but you will have to see
Hoffman moved to Florida. “They told me that I would love the dictionary and Roget’s Thesaurus in my home office as a the book for those.
her, and I do!” Dr. Rothman has been practicing medicine helpful reference. Instead, I have been carrying it around to • Poisonous vs. Venomous. Poisonous is when you bite it
in Palm Beach County for more than 20 years. Recently, share with friends as a source of not only important helpful (as with a toadstool mushroom). Venomous is when it bites
when Dr. Rothman joined TGH Concierge Health, a service information but to spark a round of appreciative good humor you (as with a snake).
of TGH Primary Care, Hoffman jumped at the chance to with the turn of almost every one of its 200 pages. • Irony vs. Sarcasm. Irony is when you say one thing but
reunite with her trusted primary care physician. In fact, she I believe you will be tempted to do the same once you get mean another. (Lounging on the beach: “It’s a tough life.”) So
not only signed herself up with TGH Concierge Health, but your hands on this handy-sized, 5-1/4” by 7-1/4” hard-cover is sarcasm, only what you mean is insulting. (After someone
also her husband and two adult sons. Diagnosed with several volume. trips: “Smooth move.”)
different autoimmune disorders, Hoffman has a complicated My initial decision to • Pronunciation vs. Enunciation. To pronounce a word is
medical history. She says Dr. Rothman is truly at the center of purchase it is my need, to say it correctly. To enunciate a word is to say it clearly.
her care – a master of coordinating and communicating with as an editor and writer, to • Hors d’oeuvres vs. Canape. Hors d’oeuvres are bite-
multiple medical specialists so everyone is on the same page. always select the correct size appetizers. Canapes are bite-size appetizers on bread,
Hoffman notes that Dr. Rothman excels at breaking down word when more than crackers or pastry.
information into ways she can understand. “She remembers one option may seem to • Schlemiel vs. Schlimazel. Shlemiels are bumbling fools.
everything,” notes Hoffman. be available … and the Schlimazels have bad luck. Hence the Yiddish crack that
Along with coordinating Hoffman’s health care, Dr. purpose of The Dictionary when a schlemiel spills their soup, it’s the shlimazel whose
Rothman monitors Hoffman’s husband and sons’ well-being, of Fine Distinctions is lap it falls on.
ensuring preventative measures like specialized blood tests to point out the more • Assume vs. Presume. To assume is to suppose without
for her adult sons, one of whom has type 1 diabetes. “When than 100 examples of two proof. To presume is to do so with confidence or authority.
our younger son is home from college, he can easily reach words that most people • Gala vs. Ball. A Gala is a large, upscale social event. A Ball
out to Dr. Rothman to get a refill on a prescription. She is mistakenly believe are is a large, upscale social event with dancing.
like an old-fashioned family doctor,” notes Hoffman. “She interchangeable, but In any case, from now on I will have no more excuses for
treats patients holistically.” which are not … and in using incorrect words in any of my columns. You have my
Prior to joining TGH Concierge Health, Dr. Rothman each case to explain the differences. The text by author Eli permission to chastise me if I do.
served the brave men and women in law enforcement as Burnstein is laced with such a wonderful sense of humor that
the dedicated doctor for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s
Department. She is also a member of the Florida Medical
Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians
and the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
TGH Concierge Health is part of Tampa General’s
commitment to connecting the Palm Beach County and
Treasure Coast communities to innovative care. TGH
Concierge Health patients receive the highest level of
primary care, with after-hours access and personalized care
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One of the leading academic health systems in the nation,
Tampa General has been affiliated with the USF Health
Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South
Florida since the school was created in the early 1970s.
Today, more than 700 medical school residents and fellows
receive specialty training at the academic health system in
areas ranging from general internal medicine to neurosurgery.
Tampa General is the highest-ranked hospital in the
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please visit TGH.org/ConciergeHealth or call (561) 739-
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